Procrastination

Well – it was only a matter of ‘time’ before I posted on procrastination.

…Here I sit with my list of things to do and a blank page, while wearing this t-shirt…

So I thought I’d start by seeing what Calvin* is up to since we left him last during his brainstorm:

My supervisor has researched procrastination and found links with self-efficacy and self-regulation. All these topics of motivation are of interest to me…and maybe ‘one day’ – haha 🙂 – I’ll explore procrastination through a research project.

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task

-William James in an 1886 letter to colleague Carl Stumpf-

So… it’s not a new thing. Not a phenomenon created by the existence of Facebook. Yet there is still a lot to learn about procrastination:

…that universal, intentional yet irrational delay of an intended course of action, in spite of an awareness of negative outcomes…such as test and social anxiety, fear of failure, depression… (Klassen et al., 2008; 2009).

However, researchers have also reported that it is beneficial for some students – those who work well under time pressures.

Given that it is predominately a problem in academic settings (70-95% of undergraduate students experience problematic procrastination), it is no surprise that PhD comics (…the website I go to when procrastinating…) frequently portrays this topic graphically:

Thanks, Jane! The way that you accomplish tasks is an inspiration to me! I should study your anti-procrastination ways 🙂 I hope we can research together again – some day! I am enjoying your blogged adventures!!